Posts Tagged ‘Jazz’
Beauty, Love and Justice…The Kids for Coltrane Story Presented at Adelphi University
Posted on: May 23, 2017
Kids for Coltrane Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of A Love Supreme at the Smithsonian
Posted on: April 5, 2014
A BLUESMAN IN THE LIFE OF THE MIND, AND A JAZZMAN IN THE WORLD OF IDEAS
Posted on: May 11, 2013
What a joy it was to meet Dr. Cornel West on April 16, 2013 at New York University. The topic was moral courage. Cornel West and Irshad Manji are cultural entrepreneurs who both spoke that evening. Dr. West is someone I admire for his moral courage and brilliant intellect, but until that evening I did not know he also was greatly inspired by the life and music of John Coltrane. The audience was illuminated by a discussion about power, democracy, innovation — and our individual role in all three. After the seminar, I spoke to Dr. West about the Kids for Coltrane Project in Education. The following week, I found myself dining with Dr. West discussing the importance of my the Kids for Coltrane Project, and related topics of illumination. Breathing rarefied air I will treasure the conversation and look forward to sharing more of my project with Dr. Cornel West in the future. “You can’t lead the people if you don’t love the people. You can’t save the people if you don’t serve the people.” ~ Dr. Cornel West
Educator Christine Termini Passarella speaking with director and actor John Turturro about his new film Passione which tells the story of Naples through song. John states that this place represents many cities that have undergone hardships but the strength is in its people. The film is filled with an enormous amount of talent and spectacular music.
This is great video created by Bret Primack explaining the special friendship of two jazz legends John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins. On September 7th Sonny is celebrating his birthday. I would like to celebrate Sonny and his contribution to music and his love of humanity which he is expresses exquisitely. Explore the music and lives of the Jazz masters…you will hear brilliance…you will also learn moving and powerful American stories.
One of my favorite poems
The Soul’s Expression by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
With stammering lips and insufficient sound
I strive and struggle to deliver right
That music of my nature, day and night
With dream and thought and feeling interwound
And only answering all the senses round
With octaves of a mystic depth and height
Which step out grandly to the infinite
From the dark edges of the sensual ground.
This song of soul I struggle to outbear
Through portals of the sense, sublime and whole,
And utter all myself into the air:
But if I did it, – as the thunder – roll
Breaks its own cloud, my flesh would perish there,
Before that dread apocalypse of soul.
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Giant Steps and Kind of Blue, Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York City
Posted on: March 2, 2009
A beautiful evening honoring exquiste music and gifted musicians John Coltrane and Miles Davis…pic with board members from The Friends of the Coltrane Home…the lovely lady at the far right is Kathleen Coltrane, the wife of saxophonist Ravi Coltrane. It was thrilling to meet her. She is proud of The Kids for Coltrane and supports my work in education. Thank you Kathleen!
After the show, I was invited backstage to meet some of the incredible musicians who performed in honor of John Coltrane and Miles Davis. Please see below. You can tell by everyone’s smiles that it was a joy to be part of this special and memorable event.
Backstage with Alto Saxophonist Sherman Irby, Singer Dave Thomas, Tenor and Soprano Saxophonist Walter Blanding, and Pianist Mulgrew Miller…and my daughter. I was also hoping to talk to the legend Jimmy Cobb who treated the audience to his powerful gift on the drums, but he had already left the building. I wanted to tell him all about The Kids for Coltrane.
Friends of the Coltrane Home
Posted on: March 1, 2009
Ms. Christine Termini Passarella meeting saxophonist Ravi Coltrane at Birdland NYC. Ravi was proud of The Kids for Coltrane. We raised $1,500 for the non profit group Friends of the Coltrane Home…please check out their site and mission. The Kids for Coltrane dream of the day that John’s Long Island home is transformed into a learning museum!
The Kids for Coltrane with contributions from Jazz at Lincoln Center…Thank you Joanna Massey. Your support meant so much to us!
William holding his grand prize , an Eastwood guitar.
First prize winner Maya with her little sister holding a letter of support from the Clinton Foundation and the book Giving. President Clinton donated an autographed copy of his book and dedicated it to Maya. She was thrilled to receive it, and be part of this philanthropic effort!! An extra special thank you goes out to saxophone player and former President of the United States of America William Jefferson Clinton.
Kids for Coltrane 